Way behind...

Sorry the blogging has been so sparse lately. We have super busy getting things planned for Ava's birthday next weekend. Of course that starting back to work thing didn't help too much either. Anyway, we have been running around like crazy getting things ready for Ava's party. In the middle of our busy lives, I also discovered a new tooth of Ava's that apparently popped up last week. It is on the bottom and unlike her others which have come in pairs, this is a lone tooth for now. Of course she is becoming a pro at walking and keeping us very busy. Today we made a trip to Jackson for party supplies and birthday gifts and she ate her very first kids meal. At the Cracker Barrel she had a vegetable plate with mashed potatoes and green beans and she ate a lot of it. Anyway, I hope that explains some of our absence in blogging and maybe after Ava's birthday is over we can get back on track. Just don't expect a lot this week, we are super busy and I doubt I will have time to get online much.

These pics are from a couple of weeks ago when Ava had a runny nose and was super moody!

Have a happy, fun week and if you're coming to the party, please RSVP as soon as possible!

Pictures of Ava Walking

Videos of Ava walking

I have a few pics that I will download later, but here is some video footage of Ava walking. It is just so fun to watch, but I also find myself holding my breath when she's around the coffee table. I am scared for her, but yet it is so fun to watch. Enjoy these 3 videos!







And here is one of her dancing to the Backyardigans. How adorable is that!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a walker!

Ava finally started walking yesterday. She made it about 5 feet until she realized what she was doing and then she sat down very carefully. She needs coaching and encouragement, but she's doing it. It is so cute to see her do it!



Sorry I haven't been able to post, but being back at school has really zapped me by the end of the day and I am just pooped. Our freshmen started today and all grades start on Monday, so let the games begin! How far until Fall Break? ;)



Also, Ava has kept us super busy this week. She has been sick with a little summer cold or bug and it has just worn us out. Nana had to take her on Wednesday to the Dr. for a cough and runny nose. It was the first time she's been to the Dr. without me, but there's just no getting out of inservice! He said she had a croupy cough and conjunctivitis in her eye, so she got a shot and some eye drops. You would think we were killing her trying to get those eye drops in. Needless to say most nights have been spent with a crying baby who doesn't want to be held, but doesn't want to not be held. It has really tried our patience, but it is starting to pass.



Anyway, as promised, here are pics of mashed potato face! And note that I didn't strategically place them there. Ava has gotten to where is she doesn't want a bite, she will sometimes knock your hand away. This is one of those times...

523 pages down, 236 more to go!

So Bradley went out after midnight on Friday to get me a new copy of the Harry Potter book. I was worn out from the Ava saga of the day so he volunteered to go. When I posted Friday Ava was just a little moody from teething and fever, but as the day wore on she came down with a horrible runny nose and a cold in her eye. So we were also dealing with that on top of the teething and with the runny nose she was not sleeping good and woke up a couple of times just wanting to be held. She is much better now, still a little clingy, but no fever and one of the teeth has come through. By the way, thanks for the tip Mandy, we will try it.

Anyway, we have been super busy here at our house (and not just with Potter reading!), but with working and cleaning. As you know, we are busy preparing for Ava's first birthday. We have a list of things to get done and at the top of our list was to fix our downstairs toilet. It had developed a leak and then part of the floor had rotted. Bradley wanted to hire someone to fix it, but with money being as it is, I convinced him to let Joe and him try to tackle it and go from there. The repairing of the floor was not a big problem, but replacing the toilet was. Our original toilet had a crack so Joe and Anne had an extra one that they hauled down here. One they got it in, it had a crack too. So Joe headed off to Lowe's to buy one. Once they got it here they discovered it was the wrong size. Took it back and bought another one. Got it out to the car and broken pieces started falling out of the box. So they took it back in and got another one. So after 4 toilets, the 5th one has successfully been installed. Thank God! No more walking upstairs to use the restroom.

In the middle of the toilet debacle and blowing up our living room light, we got a phone call. The people who originally built our house in the 1920's have some grandchildren that are visiting who want to come and tour our house. Crazy, huh? Anyway they will be coming this week so we have been furiously getting ready to have strangers come into our home and take a look around! Exciting, but nerve wracking. So we are extremely busy.

By the way, I go back to work tomorrow, so pray for me. I need it!

Anyway, here are some fun photos of me with my new Harry. I am also debuting my return to my original (or pretty close) hair color. I am also posting some pics of Ava with Pop and our new toilet. Enjoy and I will be back later with some pics of mashed potato face. Just a teaser of what's to come!

Lots of crying lately...

We are on day 3 of fever with Ava's 2 newest teeth. With the fever has come high irritability, clinginess, and more fits than usual. With my inevitable return to school on Monday, we have been trying to get Ava to start drinking whole milk since she now refuses formula and the bottle. So far, no dice. She hates the milk and is now starting to avoid the sippy cup because milk may be in it. I have been spoon feeding her milk, but very limited amounts because she just won't open up. And ever since our return from KY Ava doesn't want to sleep in her bed and cries and she used to get in bed with no problems. Nap time is also war time. She is sitting in bed crying as we speak. So needless to say, things at the Rogers' house are pretty bleak this week. I just wished that our last week had been much better, but what can you do?

Anyway, I am posting some pics from a couple of weeks ago and then I am all caught up for now. I am still waiting on a film return from Wal-Mart which should be available on Monday. I probably won't post again until next week. Potter Book #7 comes out tonight at midnight and I expect I'll be busy! Have a great weekend!

She loves to unpack things!

Ava with Nanny (her great-grandma)

The Fit Face!

Ava with Grammy (my mom)

Our Ky Trip

I know that I am behind in posting and still have a few pics from a couple of weeks ago to post. I am also going to be a little behind because I have been using our film camera a little more so I have to wait to have film developed. But I will post as I have things ready which may not be as often, especially with school starting next week (insert crying sounds here!). I did take some pics with our digital in KY so here they are.

The first one is of Bradley and Ava at the rehearsal dinner.

Ava has developed the fascination with the toilet. Getting ready for a bath at the hotel.

All alone in a big person bathtub.

The Clark Guys : Bradley, Grant, and Adam (the groom)
Grant and Katie
My goofy husband and me
The blushing groom?

Adam and Brittany

Trayton riding Barney
Ava deep in concentration (because she is watching TV)

Trayton
Ava at Maggie's Jungle Golf.


You can tell she didn't like being on the zebra's back.
And last but not least, before we left the hotel, Ava spilled out her brand new jar of puffs all over the nasty floor at the hotel. She then proceeded to eat several before we got them cleaned up. I am sure the cleaning staff really appreciated us!

Like I said, I have taken more pictures, but I have to wait until the film is developed. I will post those next week when they return (because for some reason Wal-Mart is still on a holiday schedule). The downside of film, it takes forever!